Police recover cash, cocaine

A man involved in an alleged drug transaction was arrested on multiple charges Saturday night after purportedly trying to strike a police officer with his vehicle.

Juan Miguel Soto-Diaz, 22, of Washington Street, Boston, was arrested and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a Class B drug (cocaine), possession with intent to distribute a Class B drug (cocaine), reckless operation of a motor vehicle, failure to stop for a police officer and conspiracy to violate the controlled substance law.

Shortly after 9 p.m. Saturday night Stoughton Police Det. Sgt. Dan McGowan and Officer Shawn Faria were patrolling the northern area of town when they observed what they believed to be a drug transaction involving a male suspect, police said.

Kate Sullivan Foley

A man involved in an alleged drug transaction was arrested on multiple charges Saturday night after purportedly trying to strike a police officer with his vehicle.

Juan Miguel Soto-Diaz, 22, of Washington Street, Boston, was arrested and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a Class B drug (cocaine), possession with intent to distribute a Class B drug (cocaine), reckless operation of a motor vehicle, failure to stop for a police officer and conspiracy to violate the controlled substance law.

Shortly after 9 p.m. Saturday night Stoughton Police Det. Sgt. Dan McGowan and Officer Shawn Faria were patrolling the northern area of town when they observed what they believed to be a drug transaction involving a male suspect, police said.

Police said when the officers moved in to further investigate, they illuminated the interior of the vehicle where they saw a large amount of cash.

The officers continued to move up from behind the vehicle when the driver, identified as Soto-Diaz, allegedly revved the engine and shifted into reverse, screeching the tires and heading towards the officers, police said.

“To avoid being hit the officers ran forward and to the side of the vehicle,” said Stoughton Police Executive Officer Tom Murphy.

McGowan commanded the driver to stop, but the driver allegedly ignored him, according to police. The driver allegedly put the vehicle into drive and again headed at the officers.

“He actually drove the vehicle at Det. Sgt. McGowan causing him to have to jump out of the way,” said Murphy.

The vehicle then fled from the Page Street area, police said.

The officers jumped into their cruiser and pursued the car. During the pursuit, the officers observed the driver throwing money and other items out of the vehicle. Other officers, including Joe DeSousa, John Bonney, Donna McNamara and Sgt. Tom McNulty, responded to the scene and helped recover some of the items, police said.

After dumping several items out of the vehicle, Soto-Diaz eventually pulled over on Turnpike Street where he was arrested, police said.

With assistance from Norfolk County Department of Corrections Canine Officer Mark O’Reilly and his dog, the officers went back and performed a foot search of the area involved in the pursuit. During the search, they recovered several different packages, including both money and cocaine, police said.

Additionally, the canine performed a search of Soto-Diaz’s vehicle and found a package under one of the seats. Police said the package was cocaine.

From both searches, police said, approximately $200 in cocaine was recovered.

Soto-Diaz was arraigned in Stoughton District Court on Monday. In court, Soto-Diaz listed 11655 Briar Forest, Houston, Texas, as his current address, police said.